HIGH-profile journalists have come out in a huge support of solidarity for BBC journalist Carrie Gracie who resigned over the corporation’s “illegal” and “secretive ways” over pay.

Carrie Gracie wrote an open later in which she said the BBC makes 'women feel trapped'

Outrage over the alleged gender pay gap has sparked the hashtag #IstandwithCarrie with many correspondents, presenters and writers - both male and female - hailing Ms Gracie as "brave", principled and gutsy.

They also warn the controversy will not easily go away.

It comes as Carrie Gracie wrote an open later in which she said the BBC makes “women feel trapped” and fear “disciplinary” action if they speak out against its “illegal” and “secretive ways”, according to former BBC China editor.

BBC Chief International Correspondent Lyse Doucet, BBC Radio 4 Today presenter Sarah Montague, and Jane Garvey of BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour all described Ms Gracie as "brave and brilliant".

Ms Montague added: "Not sure what is so hard to understand about #equalpay for equal work."

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Kirsty Wark described Ms Gracie as "an outstanding and principled journalist and I am proud to stand with her" while presenter Kate Silverton said she had taken a "brave and principled stand" over equal pay.

BBC World News America anchor Laura Trevelyan wrote: "It took guts for Carrie Gracie to do this, drawing attention to unequal pay in the BBC. She's the best of the best."

Breakfast host Naga Munchetty said Ms Gracie was "a woman I already greatly admired - now even more so" while reporter Alpa Patel said she is "brilliant, relentless, one of our best".

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Presenter Samira Ahmed wrote: "The brilliant Carrie is speaking the truth about the BBC's lack of equal pay and why it matters to all. Do read her letter in full and you'll see why."

Senior journalist's from rival broadcasters also backed Ms Gracie.

Channel 4 News International Editor Lindsey Hilsum tweeted: "It seems the BBC does not value Carrie - its fluent Chinese speaking China Editor, a renowned authority as well as a great journalist - because it won't pay her the same as a man.”

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Fergal Keane, Africa editor for BBC News, said: “Carrie Gracie a great journalist with rock-solid integrity and courage. A big loss. And never an ego tripper. Truly collegiate."

Carrie Gracie is first high-profile female to resign from her post in protest to the revelations that men are being paid up to “50 per cent” more than women for working the same role.

In a statement, she said: “The BBC belongs to you, the licence fee payer. I believe you have a right to know that it is breaking equality law and resisting pressure for a fair and transparent pay structure.

“[Women] have felt trapped. Speaking out carries the risk of disciplinary measures or even dismissal; litigation can destroy careers and be financially ruinous.

"What is more the BBC often settles cases out of court and demands non-disclosure agreements, a habit unworthy of an organisation committed to truth.”

The former China editor added: “In the six months since July’s revelations the BBC has attempted a botched solution based on divide and rule. It has offered some women pay “revisions” that do not guarantee equality, while locking down others in a protracted complaints process.”

She said since learning the “shocking scale of inequality” at the BBC women began to come together to tackle the “culture of secrecy” that helped to “perpetuate it”.

Women shared their pay details and they asked their male colleagues to the same which caused the BBC to launch a “talent review” - but the women have no confidence in it.

She continued: “Up to 200 BBC women have made pay complaints only to be told repeatedly that there is no pay discrimination at the BBC. Can we all be wrong? I no longer trust our management to give an honest answer.”

Last July revelations showed that top male BBC earners and personalities were significantly higher than women.

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The former editor said she told her bosses that the only acceptable resolution would be for all the international editor so to be paid the same amount.

The BBC instead offered her a big pay rise which remained “far short of equality” and that it said there were differences between roles that justified the pay gap, but it has refused to explain these differences.

Writing in Buzzfeed, she said: Since turning down an unequal pay rise I have been subjected to a dismayingly incompetent and undermining grievance process, which still has no outcome.

She was appointed its first China editor in 2013 with assurances that her salary was on the level with the then North American editor, Mark Mardell.

Figures released in July reveal that the new North American editor Jon Sopel (£200,000-£249,000) and Middle East editor (£150,000- £199,000) earned significantly more.

She said to fix this the BBC must admit it has a problem and set in place an equal and fair transparent pay structure to “avoid wasting your licence fee on an un-winnable court fight”.

But, a BBC spokesman said: “Fairness in pay is vital. A significant number of organisations have published their gender pay figures showing that we are performing considerably better than many and are well below the national average.

“We have already conducted an independent judge-led audit of pay for rank-and-file staff which showed ‘no systemic discrimination against women’. A separate report for on-air staff will be published in the not-too-distant future.”